The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-01
THE COUNTY ASSESSOR.
A NEW OFFICE OF IMPORTANCE TO
BE FILLED IN JANUARY.
Combinations Which Indicate that n
Member OF the County Court win
Get it, Despite Public Sentiment
The City Magistrates Interviewed.

an act Of the last Legislature, aroused no
little interest among citizens yesterday.
A good many seemed TO have forgotten
that such q law was ever passed, or 10 have
been wholly ignorant OF IT, In fct, the
matter seems 10 have been discussed no
where except among members oi the
county court, and two OF their number
have already announced themselves Us dc.
sirous Of the Office. The names Of several
citizens well fitted for the position were
yariously mentioned but accompanied
with the expression that they would not
be candidates, rs it would be futile for an
outsider 10 attempt to break the combine.
lion of the county court. In other words,
II member OF the county court wanted
the Office no one elise need apply. Not
wthstanding this impression, il is quite
likely that the citizens, who are most in
tcrcsted, will insist that thoroughly IL
man shall be named 10 Ill the brief term
OF appointment, which is only from Janu-
AIRY TO August. The law then provides
that the assessor shall be elected by the
people for the term Of four yean As Il is
matter that most materially affects the
property interests Of the county, II is 10
be hoped that the county court will mako
q selection satisfactory in every way 10 the
people.
lion. W. l.. Clapp, speaker Of the last
House Of Representatives, said 10 an Ar
PEAL man; "Ihe editorial in tOday's
ArrrAL as 10 the importance Of the assess
orship under the new law was thoughtful
indeed, and ] was very much gratiiied 10
see H. The Office OF ASSESSOR under this
new law Is one 0f tie mos; important In
the county, and II will be about as good
paying office as any in the county. The
salary will be from $500 10 5000, or
morc, a year. On that salary the county
ought to bo able b get thoroughly com.
pelcni man for the place. The prime
Thing y % get man who IL scrupulously
honest and will administer the office with.
out fear OF favor The frst years service
In the office will Dc laborous one. ~ the
law requires that the assessor himself shall
visit each piece Of property in the county
and assess Us true value. Suppose that
the ass,ss0r does not know the value
OF piece OF property, hc can
very easily ascertain IL by ask
ing the opinion Of three or five
mon who are acquainted with H. After
the ilrst years work Was completed there
would be but little 10 do in the office In
fact, about all the work the officer would
have 90 do would be- 10 keep up with the
property transfers. new buildings. etc.
Another good feature about the law Is that
theinyumhcnt isnot eligible for reelection.
] would not assume 81 suggest amy name to
be canya,scd for the place. ! scc that two
moanhoTs ofthc county court are mentioned
IA candidates The object Of the law was
O. take the appointment Of asstsUu oUt
Of the hands OF that body, and Il expressly
provide that no member Of Il shall be-
eligible to the asscssouhip. But I reckon
the mcnhcr could resign. Tho impur.
tancc oi the nfscenrship 10 the tax payer,
al the county Is a grave ono, and the,
should see a. Il that thoroughly fl man
gots the Office. Tho law X plain. and IL
conscicnii1usly administered will De- OF in.
calculablc benefit 10 thCcounty."
Tho magistrates residing IN The CITY.
with the exception Of Squire Fleming
wen nstsd a. 80 who thc,r ehsis. vould
~ for the uihcc, and while none ul them
seemed o. have made up their minds de-.
initoly, Il was quito evident from their
icinai ns between Squirra Smith and
dickson that Mr. Smith had the prpirr.
snce Here j. how th,y talked.
SVuiro Buttcnbcig ! have NOT given
The matter much attention. There arr
only two names mentioned so fr. anil
they are both members Of The corrt
reckon there viii be- uthrm n them are
no other candidates than SQuips Jackson
aud Smith, | think that Smith win b. the
choice OF our court. fully Ualiza the im.
p0rtancc Ut the oilic', and We must have a
good man iur H.
sQnito lloloman have spoken % at
least q hall dozen good men throughout
the county within the past few months
months about tins as@Cssonhip. ANY one
81 these men would dll the Office wen. but
They tell me they have not the time %
devote 90 a. 80 iar them nc only two
Candidait Musr-. Smith and Jnrk.nn.
both incnhCu Of The county court Their
viii most probably be other aspiunls iOf
the place before ihe election. II there l.
not the county court ia not likely a. 90
outside ui nyoWcd candidates a. mako d
selection IN that event. while ! mm boz
no WaV committed, am inclined Ia think
that 'Squirv smith would defeat squire
jackson
SquiU Elliott only know that Squir,s
Smith and Jackson ar candidates iDr the
asc.s1r-hip, and u the race rrmnius hc.
tween them Squire Smith viii pyt thc OF.
Zee.
sQuiW lIughcy Really. have thought
but very little about the matter but. 1
reckon. since Tur ArrrAt has called The
lubiic.- attention 10 10, IN hear good
deal about d between now nnd January
next ] have not committed myclin the
matter, aud DO not expect to as yet. H..
tween Mc9rs. Smith aud Ia,kun, Mr..
smith, think, would - a majority Of the
votes.
squire Powell have no Iron clnl
choice, and want ouly the h,st man. II i
nqucfion with me whether a member of
The county court should aspire 10 II. /
have in mind the best man .n Oh, county,
nnd one without superior iu qualification
enyMhcrc, Tor the place. and that ~ Gen.
~ l. Williamson. llc hes been IN that
lihe 81 business ~ long studying The siiun.
toni ownership and value u every lot In
The city aud county, that be- would find
very hluc difficulty IN fixing the Nalu,
equiiably and adhcrinr 10.
Squire Barry a'o no fperial reason
why u should ~ to q member Of the coun
y court. and have only a desire 10 place d
god man IN the Office. Just what / vii
do when the election comes up, cannoN
bay.
Squir Winters II " an important ~
fee anil should BE- filed with great dca
Of carr, with special reference b. quilidca
tons and honesty. ! viii vote for any mar
who can fll this bin and will Accept
have been fighting Cor an equitable as.css
ment Of property In Shelby county sinc,
1870.
Squire Egncw-A member oi the count,
court has no better RIGHT 20 tho oni,c 40,